a painting to remember the family home

Before downsizing from the family home, a gift from the children and grandchildren to the parents was this family portrait to remember happy days getting together and playing in the garden. The couple had also recently celebrated a landmark anniversary, and the cake is behind. Rough plan to finished painting, there were a few changes but not much, don't forget the family cat!

Planning a family portrait

initial sketch in my Seawhite sketchbook

The finished portrait

Here is one of this year's commissions. The layout and colours are planned out in my sketchbook and I then have something to show to the family and make changes as necessary. It isn't always easy to tell how heights compare for example!
The sketchbook has cartridge paper which absorbs the paint quite differently and dries quicker. It makes the paper crinkle and the paint puddles. I love the effect this gives but it would look a bit too bumpy in a frame. The final painting is made on very thick Bockingford watercolour paper. The paints are the same in each case, Winsor and Newton artists watercolours.